Ingram said he'd already heard from new Del. Mike Watson, R-Williamsburg. "I've told him I'll make sure the bill doesn't hurt his people in Williamsburg."

Watson said as much in a press release issued Thursday afternoon.

As for Ruff, he said Friday his bill is not based on the St. Bede project.

Watson's legislative aide said Friday he didn't know if the delegate could do anything about the Senate bill until "crossover," when the two chambers take up each other's bills.

Ingram promised that if his bill can't be fixed, he'll kill it. "It's my bill. I have control over it," he insisted. "I can always ask to strike it."

A member's request to strike his own bill is nearly always agreed to by the House or Senate. Ingram's bill has been sent to the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, where another legislator from the Historic Triangle, Del. Brenda Pogge, R-James City sits. As it happens, her office is next door to Ingram's.

Pogge said Friday she'd help amend or kill the bill, though she thought it actually should be re-referred to Counties, Cities and Towns, a committee Ingram chairs.

Pogge was unaware of Ruff's bill.

"I'm sure the House will do the same thing to Sen. Ruff's bill that we do to Del. Ingram's," she said. "It won't affect the St. Bede situation. That's a local matter, not a state issue."